Rack



March 20, 1951 J. J. GRAHAM 2,545,996

RACK

Filed Nov. 20, 194'? INVENTOR James fife Uh Graham TTONYS Patented Mar. 20, 1951 RACK James Joseph Graham, Wallingford, Conn, as-

signor to H. L. Judd Company, Wallingford, Conn., a corporation of Delaware Application November 20, 1947, Serial No. 787,222

Claims. 1

My invention relates to a utility rack, as for supporting ties, stockings, and the like in relatively crowded quarters.

It is an object of. my invention to provide an improved device of the character indicated.

It is another object to provide an improved utility rack of the character indicated, wherein the rack may be readily collapsed when not in used.

It is a general object to meet the above objects with a construction which is very simple and cheap to manufacture.

Other objects and various further features of the invention will be pointed out or will occur to those skilled in the art from a reading of the following specification in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. In said drawings, which show, for illustrative purposes only, a preferred form of the invention:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an assembled utility rack incorporating features of the invention, shown with the rack in an extended position;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary partially sectionalized view, to illustrate the relation of parts in a first position of the device of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 to illustrate a second relation of parts.

Briefly stated, my invention contemplates a simple utility-rack device which may be mounted, as on a wall or on the back of a door. The device may include a rack member, a mounting bracket, and novel hinge means for supporting the rack on the bracket. The arrangement may be such that free pivoting is permitted in a first relative longitudinal position of the rack and the bracket, and so that the rack may be supported in a horizontally extending position in a second relative longitudinal position of the rack and the bracket.

Referring to the drawings, my invention is shown in application to a, rackcomprising two spaced frame members 56 in the form of straps of sheet metal. The frame members 56 may be joined by spacer elements 189 to provide a rigid rack assembly and to provide substantial hanger space for supporting stockings, ties such as the tie H], or the like. The spacer members 'l8-9 preferably include rounded upper surfaces so as not to snag clothing articles hung thereon, and in the form shown these spacer elements are of half-round stocksecured as. by spot welds (not indicated) to the frame members 5-6. I

In order to support the rack I provide bracket means II in the form of a longitudinally extending strap having out-turned ends l2,-! 3 hingedly to support the rack. Securing screws l i may serve to mount the bracket against a wall, door, suitcase lid or the like. The frame members 5-5 may each include rounded ends l8 to embrace the hinge-pin means. In the form shown, rather than employ a single relatively long hinge pin spanning the two bracket ends l2l3, I utilize a separate pin l4 carried by the bracket end l2 and a separate pin i5 carried by the bracket end 13, the shanks of both pins MI5 being preferably on substantially the same axis.

In accordance with the invention, the rack is longitudinally slidable with respect to the brack-' et II, and this sliding may take placeat the engagement of frame members 5-6 with the pins |4l5. In a first position (Fig. 2) free hinge pivoting of the rack with respect to the bracket is permitted, and inv a second position (Fig. 3) longitudinally projecting means are provided for effectively locking the rack in generally horizontally extended position, as shown in Fig. 1.

The means for holding the rack in its extended position may be provided at either or both ends of the assembled article. In the case of the bracket end l2, the pin I 4 may be generally J- shaped, with the shank of the J serving as a hinge pin and the crook [4' thereof serving as the longitudinally projecting portion, which in Fig. 3 will be seen to provide adequate support under the frame member 5 for holding the rack in the elevated position shown in Fig. l. For best support of the rack, I prefer that projecting means functioning generally similar to the crook M of the pin I4 be provided at the other bracket end l3, where a further and shorter pin i6 is shown carried by the bracket end l3. In Fig. 3, it will be clear that, for the rack shifted to the right, both frame members 56 may be adequately supported by the projections I 4-| 6, and the rack may be shifted to the left and freely pivoted to a collapsed position, as against a wall, door, lid of a suitcase, or the like.

It will be seen that I have provided a relatively '7 simple collapsible utility device adapted to the most inexpensive type of manufacture. Although the invention has been described with particular application to a rack to support articles of clothing, it will be clear that the principle may have other applications, as in the case of a shelf or the like to be collapsed or extended at will.

While I have described my invention in detail for the preferred form shown, it will be understood that modifications may be made within 3 the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character indicated, a longitudinally extending bracket, spaced hinge pins on said bracket and On substantially a common hinge axis, .and a rack supported for rotation on said axisisai'd rack including-spaced radially extending members separately hinged on said pins, longitudinally extending brace means;

tying said members together so that said rack may pivot as a unit, said rack being longitudinally displaceable on said pivot axis, and longitudinally to resist pivoting in a first relative longitudinal position of said rack and said bracket,--said'- pro'+-' jecting pins being mounted on the outturnecl ends of said bracket and being disengageable from said members. in order td'permit pivoting of said rackinoa'second'relative longitudinal position of said rack and said bracket.

ZZ Ini-a device of'the character indicated, a bracket including a longitudinally extending strapjwith out-turned'ends, a J-shaped pin on one-of said ends with the straight end of the shank of th'eJ sup'portdbysaid bracket end, a straight"pirrsupported by the other endof 'said bracketion'ani-axis substantially commonlto the axis of the.shankbfisaidfhshaped pin, and rack means. including 'hingerplate means to embrace said'sll'ank and to embrace said straight pin, said rack and said bracket being relatively slidable alon'gsaidcommon axis, whereby said rack andsaid bracket may freely hingedlypivot in a first relative axial position of said rack and said bracket, and further whereby'said rack may be firmly. supportedbysaid bracket in an extended position ineasecond relative axial position of saidrack andsaidbracket with said rack" in engagement withthe-crook-of said J-shaped pin.

3L A device accordingto claim 2, in which said other end of said bracket further includes a longitudinally. projecting portion spaced from said'coinmon axis for engagement with said rack in sa-idsecondi'relatiw axial position.

4. A device according to claim 2, in which said rack includes two spaced frame members in the form of straps with rolled ends embracing in one case the shank of said J-shaped pin and in the other case said straight pin.

5. In a device of the character indicated, a bracket member, longitudinally extending hingepin means? supported at longitudinally? spaced points on said bracket member, said hinge-pin means extending between said spaced points of support, and a rack member supported for rotation on said hinge-pin means, said rack member beingaxially slidableon said hinge-pin means, and"'a"pin'carried by one end of said bracket 4 memberfwi'th a'lloi'igitudinally projecting portion spacedfrom the axis of said hinge-pin means and projecting between said spaced points of support, the length of said pin longitudinally overlappable with said rack member being less than the possible axial sliding movement of said rack member witli'respect to'--'said'bracket member, whereby said projecting" portion may be engageable with said rack member in one axial position of said rack-m'emb'er-and' angularly free of said-'rackmember" in anotheraxial position of said rackm'emberz; v A y V J AMES' J OSEPH GRAHAM? REFERENCES CITED The following references areof' record in the fileof this patent:'

UNITED STATESPA'N 'rs' 

